The architecture and interiors of the Enlightenment and the New Age are unlikely to leave anyone indifferent - they cause either stormy delight or a categorical denial. But even today, architects turn to the styles of Baroque, Empire, Rococo, because people like this aesthetic, it resonates in their souls. However, often the difference between these historical styles can only be understood by a specialist. We will tell you about the difference between Baroque, Rococo and Classicism, how they appeared and what are their characteristic features.
The concept of great styles in art
Style is a stable form of something, in our case, works of art, architecture. Large styles are the result of the evolution of artistic thinking, the comprehension of space and time, the development of a social vision of the world. Style is a peculiar worldview of the era. In the history of art there is a change in the dominant styles, so different eras are associated with a certain, stable artistic thinking. However, the styles of Baroque, Rococo, Classicism and others do not disappear. There are always creators who find art resources in existing directions. Especially at the present stage of the development of art, when their coexistence is observed. Researchers usually say that there are large styles, such as Gothic or Baroque, and trends, such as Empire style or Symbolism. Each style is characterized by its own set of expressive means, which allows us to attribute works to one or another trend.
Baroque history
At the end of the Renaissance in Italy, a new style emerges. He became a counterweight to classicism and rationalism. Experts believe that its appearance is due to three factors: these are changes about the world associated with great geographical discoveries, counter-reformation in Catholicism and the development of an order system in architecture. There is also a point of view that the emergence of Baroque was caused by the desire of Italy and Rome to retain the title of the cultural center of Europe. By the 16th century, the Italian aristocracy was wasting its wealth, and there was no longer enough money for the construction of magnificent palaces. Then, in order to continue to amaze representatives of other countries with their wealth, new expressive forms were invented, designed to amaze the audience’s imagination. In this era, people's lives are changing, scientific knowledge of the world is gaining weight, people are beginning to engage in various activities.
From Italy, style spreads throughout Europe. In France, he expressed himself in the form of the “great style” of Louis the Fourteenth, in which classic traditions and baroque elements were combined. This style encompassed various types of art, but it was most clearly manifested in architecture and interior design.
Baroque literature was popular in several countries; Baroque painting flourishes in Italy and the Netherlands. In Spain and its colonies, this style was not only widespread, but also strengthened, it is also called ultra-baroque. The Spaniards extend their version of the style to Latin America. But England almost completely avoided the craze for baroque splendor.
Baroque and Rococo have become different forms of dialogue with classicism. Baroque was his obvious antipode, but Rococo later tried to reconcile the redundancy inherent in Baroque architecture and painting and the severity of classicism. The Baroque era lasted from the 16th to the 18th century and left a huge artistic heritage, which even today delights people and finds successors to this tradition.
Distinctive features
Each style - Gothic, Baroque, Rococo, Empire as late classicism - has its own set of expressive means. The main epithets suitable for describing baroque are "splendor" and "redundancy". It is not in vain that this term is most often translated as "bizarre, prone to excesses." Its distinguishing features are solemnity, grandeur, redundancy. Style is designed to express the fullness of life, its enjoyment. In architecture and painting of this era, monumentality and dynamism, a varied play of color and light, and contrasts are observed. Artists of this period often turned to ancient motifs for inspiration. Baroque works strive for intense entertainment and illusion. The artist seeks to deceive the viewer, to create space for him where in reality he is not. The Italian aristocracy wanted to give their chambers the most luxurious look at the expense of painting, hence this piling up of everything, the collapse of the mass of expressiveness on the viewer, so that he was breathless and was no longer able to peer into the details.
Baroque in the interior
Baroque painting was created primarily for the design of the palazzo of Italian aristocrats. Gradually, the style embraced the entire interior. Baroque rooms are characterized by large volumes, scale. The walls are richly decorated with paintings. It’s easy to learn baroque interiors: they always have an abundance of gilding, details, carvings, stucco moldings with floral motifs: vines, leaves, flowers, many sculptures on antique themes. Authors of interiors in this style actively use the color contrast technique. The furniture in these interiors is always massive, with carvings, rich drapes, rich fabrics, tapestries. To create the illusion of space, mirrors are often used, painted landscapes that extend the perspective of the rooms.
Baroque in architecture
Artistic styles are manifested to varying degrees in different types of art. Baroque and Rococo, as well as classicism, reached the maximum scope in architecture. The Baroque era is famous for its magnificent buildings. Among them are the Royal Palace in Madrid, the Palazzo Carignano in Turin, the Frauenkirche and the Zwinger in Dresden, the Trevi Fountain in Rome. Baroque buildings are notable for their large volumes, they strive to make a grand impression on the viewer using columns, caryatids, concave and curved facades, and complex facade decoration. Typical buildings of the era were palaces, ensembles of squares with fountains and sculptures, park ensembles with beautiful pavilions, monastery and church complexes. Baroque buildings tend to look as expensive as possible, in them the redundancy of everything strikes the eyes.
Rococo story
Excessive baroque is being replaced by a more refined and proportionate reality to a new era - Rococo. Baroque sought at all costs to impress the viewer, and his French version tried to show the taste of the artist and the owner of the room. This style arises, or, as some experts say, a trend in France at the beginning of the 18th century. After the death of Louis the Fourteenth, life moves from huge palaces to salons and houses of the aristocracy. With the next Louis, life becomes more fun, the aristocracy strives to get all the pleasure at once, anticipating the tragic times. And against this historical background, a new style appears, to the greatest extent it was manifested in the design of dwellings.
Specific features
Rococo is becoming a natural successor to Baroque traditions, but drops of classicism are also felt in it. The new direction tried to overcome the inhuman scale of baroque. This direction is connected with the departure into the world of fantasy, in it there is no desire to shock the viewer. On the contrary, the goal here is to create an impression of lightness, fantasy, cheerfulness. The main features of this direction are lightness, plenty of light, sophistication and intricacy.
Rococo in the interior
The main differences between Baroque and Rococo are that the customer was the kings, the highest nobility, and the style was extremely ceremonial, and the second was designed to decorate private life, it was already called upon not only to produce an external effect, but also to be comfortable for life. Therefore, this style is most manifested in interior design. The layout of the rooms in the Rococo style was no longer enfilade, but amounted to asymmetric complexes. The interior design is dominated by rounded, smooth lines. The premises are becoming smaller, more chamber, the ceilings already have a height commensurate with human growth. In everything, the desire for a comfortable life is felt. Therefore, extremely comfortable furniture is created during this period. The color palette becomes softer; combinations of white with delicate pink, light green, blue, and lilac are often used. The room was filled with many accessories: vases, textiles, various figures. In this era, there is an idea of the interior as a holistic ensemble. The era of Louis XV is the time of the birth of private collecting, and in their interiors people exhibited exhibits of their collections.
Rococo in architecture
During the Rococo period, construction was shifted from the construction of palaces and huge architectural ensembles to the sphere of private construction. Therefore, Rococo is predominantly represented in the villas and houses of the aristocracy. Therefore, small buildings predominate in this style, the decor uses a rockail motif (curl resembling a shell) and cartouches. Facades, like interiors, are painted in pastel colors. Buildings are characterized by asymmetry, smooth lines, sophistication. The main thing in the architecture of this period is the whim of the customer and the imagination of the architect. This style reached its greatest dawn in the architecture of Bavaria. Famous buildings in the Rococo style - Small Trianon in Versailles, the palace of Sanssouci in Potsdam, the Spanish Steps in Rome.
The similarity of the Rococo and Baroque styles
Comparing these two areas in art, it is worth remembering: one follows from the other. And even to varying degrees, but both baroque and rococo are antagonists of classicism. Both styles are built on quirks, curved lines, floral and antique motifs. Both directions were realized to a large extent in interiors and architecture; paintings are represented less than other styles.
Style differences
Reflecting on the question of how baroque differs from rococo, it is worth remembering the historical context. Baroque is a time of great hopes, and Rococo is a period of foreboding collapse. Therefore, the main difference between them is the scale. Baroque has everything grand, everything in a big way. And in Rococo everything is smaller, more elegant. Instead of sculptures - figurines, instead of massive furniture - more light and comfortable. Baroque is characterized by symmetry, theatricality, scope, solemnity, ceremoniality. And for Rococo - subtlety, grace, intimacy, nuances, gallantry. In baroque, everything is serious, but in rococo, playfulness and lightness are important.